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Getting Acquainted with Elbow Injuries and Orthopedic Elbow Braces

The sound or feel of a bone, tendon, or ligament snapping in the middle of a game or work is something dreadful especially when there is excruciating pain. Elbow injuries are quite common. These can happen when doing sports or recreational activities or doing work for jobs or projects around the home. It can also sustain injury during falls as one instinctively avoids damage on other more vital body part like the head. These injuries can be painful and the bones need to be supported during the healing period better with orthopedic elbow braces.

What are those types of injuries that require the use of elbow braces?

When an accident happens, first aid measures necessitate the use of a brace or a splint. Severe injuries may need medical attention, even surgery.

There are several types of elbow injury. There are injuries that can be sudden caused by a direct blow or fall. It can twist, jerk, jam or abnormally bend the elbow. Pain is commonly severe and sudden. Soon after, you may see bruises and swelling. Some examples of elbow injuries that are acute or sudden are:

• Injuries to tendons that connect bones and muscles.

• Joint injuries like sprains that is caused by overstretching or tearing of the ligaments.

• Contusions caused by a tear or rupture of minute blood vessels.

• Damages to ligaments that connect bones to bones in joints.

• Fractures or broken bones of the humerus or upper arm bone or the radio-ulna forearm bones
at the elbow joint.

• Strained or pulled muscles triggered by overstretching of muscles around the joints.

• Ruptures or tears of muscles in the elbow joints and in the biceps or triceps or the upper
arm.

• Dislocations of the joint in the elbow.

Certain injuries that may similarly require the use of orthopedic elbow braces are the so-called “overuse” injuries. These happen when there is much stress from doing a heavy work or repetitive motions over prolonged hours accompanying job-related tasks. Among the common overuse injuries are:

• Lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow is the pain associated with playing tennis. This can lead to soreness or discomfort that is felt on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow. This is the most familiar type of tendinopathy affecting the elbow related to overuse of the forearm muscles. The overuse may be triggered by sports and jobs that make much use of the arms such as tennis, golf, swimming, golf, carpentry jobs, gardening and plumbing.

• There can also be soreness or pain with golfer’s elbow. This results from overuse of the inner (medial) part of the elbow. Little Leaguer’s elbow is common among children who are active in sports which entail much throwing.

• Bursitis that results to the inflammation behind the elbow. An example is olecranon bursitis or the Popeye elbow.

• Tendinosis is a chain of microtears around tendon’s connective tissues.

• Ulnar nerve compression or pinched nerves involve the pinching of the ulnar nerve found at the elbow joint. This happens with repetitive movements.

What is the value of using orthopedic elbow braces with these injuries?

These elbow braces are useful in providing stability as well as comfort. These are attained by supporting the injured bones and tissues, and allowing static stretch or the option free motion and controlled mobilization. This is most important during post-surgery recuperation. Those types with control knob are ideal because it supports free range-of-motion (ROM). Thus, the injured can benefit from sufficient support and stability with limited elbow movements that is important in preventing contractures.

There is wide range of orthopedic elbow braces available these days that can suit the needs of a person with elbow injuries. Seeking the help of a doctor can guide you to a perfect brace that can make healing and regaining strength faster.